Top 10 Unbelievable Facts About Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Washington D.C. Photo By Duane Lempke – Wikimedia

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts About Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Covering four acres (1.6 ha) in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall in Washington D.C., is The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial a national memorial in the United States. 

Inspired by a line in King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the memorial includes a granite statue of Civil Rights Movement leader Martin Luther King Jr. carved by sculptor Lei Yixin.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and social activist who became a notable figure during the U.S. civil rights movement from the mid-1950s until he was assassinated in 1968. He played a pivotal role in ending the legal segregation of African American citizens in the U.S.

Here are 10 facts about The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

1. Its Address is Significant

The national memorial is located at 1964 Independence Avenue, Southwest of Washington D.C. The address is important because it references the year the Civil Rights Act Of 1964 became law.

King Jr. influenced the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The bill made him receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, among other honors.

2. The Memorial’s Opening Date

Mountain of despair. Photo by By VillageHero – Wikimedia Commons

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial was open to the public on 22 August 2011. Its dedication had been planned for 28^th August 2011, but the date was moved to 16^th October 2011 due to damages from Hurricane Irene.

28^th August 2011 would have been the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom when King Jr made the I have a dream speech.

3. First Black Individual on National Mall

Although King’s is not the first memorial to an African American in Washington D.C., This is the first African American honored with a memorial on or near the National Mall.

He is also the fourth non-President to be memorialized near the National Mall. The King Memorial is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and is the 395th unit in the United States.

4. Lies Close to Important Memorials

The monumental memorial is located at the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin near the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. It also has The Jefferson Memorial to the southeast.

Interestingly, the King memorial is on a sightline linking it to the Lincoln Memorial to the northwest. The Lincoln Memorial steps are where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech.

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial’s location along the line connecting the Thomas Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials helps to reinforce the connection between these three leaders.

It signifies three important moments for civil rights in America’s history. From the promise that all men are created equal,

 to the freeing of the slaves, to the final push for full and equal rights.

5. Stone of Hope

Stone of Hope at the memorial. Photo By Rachel Hendrix – Wikimedia Commons

The centerpiece for the memorial is based on a line from King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech. Focusing on the line “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

A 30-foot (9.1 m) carving of King Jr. named the ‘Stone of Hope’ stands past two other pieces of granite that look like a separated mountain with a path through it.

The design is such that visitors figuratively “pass through” The Mountain of Despair on the way to the Stone of Hope. Symbolic for moving through the struggle as King Jr. did during his life.

Pale pink granite was used to create the ‘Stone of Hope’ to ensure that the carving’s details would be visible at night in contrast with the Mountain of Despair.

The space is a place to contemplate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. A non-violent philosophy striving for freedom, justice, and equality.

6. Cherries Blooming

Cherry Blossom Season at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Photo By Tim Evanson – Wikimedia Commons

The Cherry Trees at the memorial are positioned in a spot where they cause the effect of Martin Luther King Jr. gazing upon them.

Cherry trees are known to bloom in March-April. Around the time of his death’s anniversary, the trees look amazing and are a sight to behold. Nature is an important part of the memorial’s design.

7. The Memorable Quotes

The Obamas reading a quote at the memorial on an impromptu night visit. Photo By The White House – Wikimedia Commons

Arcing from the portal around the memorial’s plaza is a 450-foot (137-meter) crescent-shaped wall. Fourteen of King’s famous quotes from his speeches, sermons, and writings are inscribed on this curved wall.

A council of Historians was chosen to select the quotes. They are on the themes of justice, democracy, love, and hope.

Of The 14, the earliest quote is from 1956, spoken during the time of the Montgomery bus boycott while the latest is from a sermon King delivered at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. four days before he was assassinated.

The quotes are not arranged in chronological order so that one can start to read at any point he or she might choose.

8. A Paraphrased Quote Removed

A paraphrased quote that was on the side of the ‘Stone of Hope’ was criticized and finally removed in August 2013.

The words used to read “I Was a Drum Major for Justice, Peace, and Righteousness” which is a paraphrased version of “If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”

Critics said the former made King look like a bad person. As much as the quotes acknowledge the history of the civil rights struggle in America, they can continue to serve as inspiration to others fighting for civil rights around the globe.

9. Blocks Assembled on Site

The sculpture and the mountain are composed of 159 granite blocks that were transported to Master Lei’s studio in Changsha, China, where he assembled and sculpted 80 percent of the artwork.

It was then disassembled and transported by ship to Baltimore and reassembled at the memorial site. Master Lei completed the last 20 percent of the sculpting on-site in Washington D.C.

10. The Memorial has Many Critics

The Memorial’s centerpiece in the evening. Photo By Dannel Malloy – Wikimedia Commons

The monument has many critics that lash out at the sculpture for a variety of reasons. Some say the sculpture was Made in China, others argue that King Jr. looks white, while others have issues with the quotes and the list of complaints is endless.